BAKU, July 19 — A wave of severe water shortages has hit Azerbaijan’s capital this week, leaving residents in several districts without access to running water for hours — in the middle of one of the hottest periods of the summer.
The worst-hit areas include the Bakikhanov settlement in Sabunchu district and Yeni Guneshli in Surakhani, where frustrated locals report long and unexplained interruptions in supply. According to residents, the issue appears to extend far beyond these neighborhoods, with disruptions reported across other parts of Baku as well.
In response to an inquiry by Bizim.Media, officials from the Unified Water Supply Service confirmed the disruptions, attributing them to “temporary difficulties with water pressure” in parts of the city’s distribution network.
District water utility teams are said to be actively investigating the cause and working to resolve the issue.
“Water supply to affected subscribers will soon be restored to normal levels,” the agency stated in a press release, without providing a specific timeline.
Yet the lack of clarity and preparedness has sparked growing public criticism. Many Baku residents argue that recurring infrastructure problems — particularly during peak summer months — reflect a chronic failure of investment and planning in essential services. Despite repeated assurances from utility officials in previous years, water outages remain a persistent issue in parts of the capital.
With daily temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F), the timing of this latest disruption has only intensified public anger. Critics say that vague promises of restoration are no substitute for a clear crisis management strategy and long-term infrastructure modernization.
Calls for accountability and transparent communication are growing louder, as residents urge authorities to treat water access not as a privilege, but as a basic right — one that must be safeguarded even in the heat of summer.
